Why It's Time To Try Oregon Pinot Noir Now TOP TASTE Silky and polished with layered fruit and spice notes wrapped up in a classy package with a bit of earth and black tea—just enough to make it intriguing but not weird.

Four special Pinot Noirs from Adam Lee at Siduri Slightly more retarded in its aroma than the prior wine and also slightly more tannic, this wine really responds to aeration and is a good bet for the cellar. To drink now, decant for an hour.

Perfectly transparent ruby-magenta hue shading to an invisible rim; spiced and macerated red cherries and currants; loam and some rooty black tea; woodland flowers and herbs; very subtle but builds intensity; super satiny and supple texture; quite dry, with a finish that gets surprisingly tannic and austere. Now through 2022 or ’23. Very Good+.

The mystic black tea Kung Fu is very, very strong here. A-

The 15 Best Pinot Noir Wines from California Adam Lee moved from Texas to Sonoma with $15,000 in his pocket, a big personality and a dream. Lately, it all has turned out right. His winery recently sold to Kendall-Jackson, but he’s retained control of the winemaking. Sourcing grapes from premium vineyards around the state, Siduri doesn’t tend its own vines, but makes the most of their vineyard relationships. Tasting across the Siduri spectrum is also tasting across the entire state, which is, as recreational activities go, a pretty good time.

Oregon makes some very fine Pinot Noirs. This is no exception. And in some ways, it is better than most, in particular, those selling for $50 for more. The secret here is not only in its dramatic red cherry fruit and faint forest floor complexity, but in the way wine maker Adam Lee handled the structure to avoid one of Oregon’s almost regular issues with PN: tannin. This wine has a gorgeous structure based on good acidity, with less tannin than I normally see in the state’s PNs. Exceptional.

Happy Pinot Noir Day! Toasting This Morning on KXAS/NBC DFW From Siduri, and our friends, Texans Adam and Dianna Novy Lee, Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir from vineyards in Santa Barbara County with heavy influence from the Pacific creating concentrated fruit with small berries, for a bold, hearty wine.

Sometimes, the whole being > the sum of the parts is reason enough to rejoice. A-

This is a seriously good pinot with layered notes of blackberry, herbs and tobacco. Generous fruit. Great backbone. Well crafted.

An impressive pinot with layered flavors of red cherries, a hint of plum and blackberry, herbs and spice. Round texture. Nice length.

Here is a slightly simple, fairly direct Pinot that is keyed on clean, mildly cherry-like fruit with a deft note of oak lending a slight boost in richness and a scant touch of tannin for firmness. It is not an expansive wine but it maintains a good sense of focus from beginning to end, and, if it promises to unfold a bit more with age, it is easy to taste now.

SIDURI Willamette Valley 2014 is thoroughly enjoyable now yet has the balance to age and improve for several years.

Nicely ripened and showing a mix of cherries and sweet plums on the nose that is reiterated in its young and insistently fruity flavors, this well-balanced middleweight impresses with its polish and clarity. It is not a wine of dramatic richness, but it hits all of the right varietal marks, and it has the quiet potency of a Pinot that will improve for several years.

Open the bottle of the Siduri 2014 John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir and breathe in deep aromas of black plum, dark chocolate, red meat smoke, mud, and darkness. On the pour this Pinot is a dusty pink-rouge with hints of brown. In the glass, the wine has the same coloring, but you can see how light it is — it’s completely see-through, but that tinge of rose-rouge hints at darkness. Tilt the glass, and observe an aura of burnt orange around the outermost perimeter. Initial aromas are of rich, wild strawberries; roses; and a balsamic or soy-like umami. Swirl the glass and bring all those scents together, enlivened by acidity that cuts right through that perceived richness. Add to the aromas a strength of floral perfume, a hint of bright red cherry, and the funk of baby’s breath. The palate of the Siduri 2014 John Sebastiano Vineyard Pinot Noir is simultaneously light and full, textural without any specifically harsh or lingering mouthfeel. The acidity provides just a bit of spice that cuts through that texture and leaves a lingering, long finish. Dominant flavors are of dried strawberries, balsamic, and chili-chocolate, leaving an after-breath of dried black cherry.

Siduri winemaker Adam Lee, based in Sonoma, sources fruit from a range of vineyards. This full-bodied, darkly fruited Pinot displays both the power and the elegance of the vaunted Pisoni Vineyards.

This rich pinot is weighted to red fruit and has a streak of racy black pepper spice. This sassy pinot makes for great Labor Day fun, whether you drink it solo or pair it with grilled meats.

2014 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir, Santa Lucia highlands, shows a dollop of strawberry on the nose, with beautiful richness, supple tannins and attractive floral and spice notes. High marks for its purity.

From a rock-star vineyard site, this Pinot is exuberant in raspberry, cherry and cocoa, accented in sweet oak. Structured acidity and toned-down tannins maintain a balance of approachability, though the wine should age beautifully for another 10 years.

This pinot is complex and earthy, buoyed with bright, high-toned fruit and minerals. Well-integrated and balanced. A knockout.

2013 Keefer Ranch Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley, exhibits wonderful depth with impressive weight on the palate and exceptional complexity. It shows aromas of strawberry and black cherry, with notes of spice and a touch of earthiness.

...The wine list is varied and offers some interesting choices, both French and otherwise. I am, of course, on the company dime, so I passed up the Bordeaux and headed to a more moderately priced pinot noir by Siduri. This 2013 Santa Rita Hills red has lots of fruit and a touch of violets. It was delicious on its own and paired particularly well with a filet mignon.

2013 Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir offers exceptional richness for an appellation pinot at this price point. It delivers darker blue fruits in its flavor profile and sports surprisingly good backbone given its richness and palate weight.

A native Texan and frequent business traveler, Lee knows that people across the U.S. don’t feel as comfortable about wine as they do in Sonoma. Even at $30 a bottle and under, wine is a luxury for most. Siduri’s 2013 Sonoma County Pinot Noir (87 points) is $22, one of the best wine deals in the world.